Vacuum fruit juice extractor



April 11, 1944. A. DELAY I VACUUM FRUIT JUICE EXTRACTOR Filed Sept. 11, 1941 na m m m w v w n 7- 1154" I A 69 WW BY W Patented Apr. 11, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VACUUM FRUIT JUICE EXTRACTOR Albert Delay, Orlando, Fla. Application September 11, 1941, Serial No. 410,362

10 Claims.

The present invention relates to apparatus for the extraction of juice particularly from citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, grapefruit or other fruits similar thereto.

The juices from such fruits spoil quickly upon coming into contact with air. It is necessary, therefore, where the juices are to be bottled or canned to provide apparatus which will exclude air or other deleterious gases entirely from the fruit juices throughout the entire extraction and bottling or canning process. It is desirable, too, to avoid halving or otherwise cutting the fruit prior to actual extraction, so that there is no exposure of the juicy pulp to air at any time prior to or during juice extraction. In other words, it is desirable to provide apparatus for treating whole fruit in such a way that there is no exposure of the pulp or juice to air throughout the extraction and bottling of the juices. I

It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus meeting the foregoing requirements.

Another object of this invention is to provide juice extractingv apparatus which can readily be used for diiferent sizes and kinds of fruit.

A further object is to provide novel adjustment means which facilitates quick adaptation of the apparatus for different kinds and sizes of fruit.

A further object is to provide means for completely enveloping whole fruit and sealing it to atmosphere prior to cutting through the fruit rind.

Still another object is to provide novel means a for cutting into and for squeezing so enveloped fruit mechanically to extrude its juice and to remove it to bottling or canning apparatus at sub- 3 atmospheric pressure or under vacuum in the abmerely for the purposes of illustrative disclosure,

a preferred embodiment of the invention, it being expressly understood, however, that various changes may be made in practice within the scope of the claims without digressing from the inventive idea.

In the drawing, in which similar reference characters denote corresponding parts:

Fig..-.1 is a front elevation of the apparatus with parts thereof in sectional elevation to illustrate details of construction;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view illustrating details of construction of the cutting and coring device and operating parts associated therewith;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and also viewed in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a similar sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 2 and also viewed in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical elevation, partly in vertical section, to illustrate details of one form of cutter and corer device used in the apparatus.

In the drawing to denotes a suitable standard or upright frame having a base lOa. A bracket member II is suitably supported from the standard at It. This bracket has a split bearing l3, one part Me of which is removably attachable to the bracket supported part |3b as by bolts M. The bracket member II is so supported that the axis of the bearing I3 is vertical. A citrus fruit seating member I1 is adapted to be supported in the bearing l3.

This seating member l1 comprises a tubular part l8 adaptedto be clamped within the bearing I3. An annular flange I9 is provided on the seating member l8 which rests normally on the top edge l3c of the bearing IS. -The upper face l9a of the flange is provided with an annular shoulder 20 for a purpose to be presently described, and with a second concentrically arranged annular shoulder 2|. The surface of the flange is cut away within the limits defined by shoulder 2| and the inner wall We of the tubular part 18 to define a citrus fruit seat 2 la shaped to receive citrus fruit F in substantial sealing relationship.

The tubular part I8 is slightly reduced in external diameter at 22 and attached to a combination valve seat and juice outletmember 25. This member 25 is provided on its top surface with an upright annular fiangeZS whose internal diameter is so admeasured as to receive snugly the portion 22 of the tubular part IS. The member 25 and the tubular part l8 are removably attached to each other as by bolts 21. A substantially leak-proof joint is required between the two parts It and 25 and consequently their engaging surfaces are properly admeasured and finished to insure this effect.

A chamber 30 is provided within the member 25. This chamber opens into the top surface 3| of said member and is there provided with a valve seat 32 aligned with the axis of tubular part i8. A juice outlet passageway 33 communicates with the chamber 30. A suitable exhaust pipe line 34 open to vacuum, as will be presently described, is'connected suitably to this passageway. Below the chamber 36, the member 25 has a bore 36 of reduced diameter aligned with the axis of tubular part l6.

On its lower face, the member 25 is provided with a threaded nipple 31 which receives the usual parts a, b, c of a packing gland or stufling box 38 which serves to seal the chamber 30 against leakage of fluid therefrom around a reciprocally movable operating rod 46 which extends therethrough.

The rod 40 has a diameter so admeasured as to slidably and rotatably fit the bore 36. This rod extends through the member 25 and in its upper portion carries the cutter and corer member 42 (Figs. 2 and 6). The latter in the embodiment shown comprises a cylindrical body 43. This body has a portion 44 which is so admeasured in diameter as to fit slidably and rotatably within the bore I8a of the tubular part la. The portion 44 is provided externally with suitable juice fines or grooves 45. r

A reduced cylindrical portion 46 above the portion 44 receives a cylindrical tube or shell part 41 whose external diameter is substantially that of portion 44. The upper edge 46 of this part is sharpened, and in the embodiment shown, corrugated to facilitate rapid cutting into the fruit when the said edge is rotated and moved upwardly. This shell 41 is provided with a plurality of small juice escape openings 49. It also is provided with juice flues or grooves 50 arranged in alignment with the respective lines 45.

Theportion 62 of the body 45, below portion 44, is of reduced diameter providing a substantial clearance 54 between itself and the inner wall l8a of the tubular portion I! so that juices may flow freely therein toward the valve seat 32. A valve portion 53 is provided at the lower terminal of portion 52 and this normally seats upon the valve seat 32 preventing the passage of gases or the flow of juices to chamber 30 from above the valve 53. The overall height of the cutter and corer member 42 is so admeasured that when valve portion 53 is seated on seat 32, the cutting edge 48 lies below the citrus fruit seat Ma. The body 43 is bored axially to receive the rod 46 and threadedly' engages the latter at 56. Other suitable means for removably attaching the body 43 to the rod may be provided.

The cutter and corer member 42 is adapted to be reciprocated and is rotated during its reciprocal motion' by corresponding motion imparted to the rod 46. To this end, the rod 40 is coupled at 60 to a plunger portion 6i of a ramrod 62. The plunger portion 6| is movable axially in a tubular cam casing 63. This casing is provided in its wall with a spiral cam groove 64 in which a cam follower 65 attached to plunger portion 6| is movable. Casing 63 in turn is enveloped by a tubular housing 66 to which it is suitably fixed as by bolts 61.

End brackets 68, 69 are clamped over the respective ends of the housing 66 as by bolts 10, Ii. These end brackets in turn are suitably secured to the standard or upright frame ill, thus serving to prevent either rotary or translatory motion of the cam casing 63. Both brackets 68 and 69 have the respective openings l2, 13 through which the rod 40 and ram rod 62 respectively may move. An end plate 15 fastened over the opening 13 limits the downward stroke of plunger portion 6i.

With the structure just described, movement of the cam follower 65 in spiral groove 64 during reciprocation of rods 40 and 62 will impart rotation thereto and consequently to the cutter and corer 42.

It is desirable that the upper stroke limit of the cutter and corer 42 be adjustable. To this end, cutter depth adjustment means are provided. In the embodiment shown, this means includes a collar or sleeve member 80 carried on the shaft 40 within the cam casing 63. It also includes a tubular stop member 8| slidably arranged about the rod 40. This member 6| has a cross head Bid and oppositely extending tined flanges 82, 83 between whose pairs of tines 82a, 83a the respective threaded extentions 10a, 1 la of bolts 16 and 11 extend. A nut 85 is rotatably borne on the tines 82a. A similar nut 86 is rotatably borne on the tines 83a. These nuts threadedly engage on the respective threaded extensions IOa, Ila of bolts 10, H. The nuts 85, 66

, have respective sprocket portions 85a, 86a and an endless sprocket chain 88 is passed around the two sprockets. One of the nuts, as nut 86, has a manipulating knob portion 86b to facilitate rotation. As a result of the chain and sprocket coupling between the nuts, rotation of knob 86b causes simultaneous rotation of both nuts on their respective threaded extensions 10a, Ila; The direction of rotation of the nuts thus determines the corresponding vertical movement of the stop member 8! and consequently the relative position of its inner or abutment end Bib. The latter provides the upper limiting abutment for the collar 80. Being adjustable as to position, as described, it permits variation in the stroke of the collar and, consequently of plunger 6|. As aresult of such stroke limitation the maximum extent of projection of the cutter and corer 42 above the citrus fruit seat 21a and its depth of penetration into fruit F may be varied at will by simple manipulation of knob 86b.

For convenience, the stop member 6! may be provided with calibration marks 89 to indicate the extent of adjustment of the stroke and the penetration depth of the cutter and corer 42. Other suitable indicating means may, of course,

- be employed.

Reciprocal movement of the ram rod 62 is effected by attaching it rotatably through a suitable ball bearing coupling 90 to the piston rod ii of a double acting pressure-actuated cylinder 52 of any well known type. This cylinder is suitably supported from the standard or upright frame [0 at 93. Pressure may be applied to either side of the cylinder piston (not shown) through the respective pressure pipe lines 94, through the control valve 96 to which in turn the pressure line 91 from a suitable pressure source (not shown) is also connected.

To completely enclose and seal the fruit F from atmosphere during juice extraction a reciprocally movable enclosing dome I00 is provided. This dome which is closed at its top is provided with a pressure supply inlet llli leading to a chamber I62 therein. An inverted cup-like member I03 of resilient material such as rubber or the like whose shape is complemental to that of chamber I02 is provided. This member has an annular flange I04 which is suitably secured to a similar annular flange I05 on the lower rim of the dome as by retaining rings I06 and bolting at I01. Sufhcient clearance is provided between the inner wall of the dome and the wall of the member I03 to permit pressure supplied to chamber I02 from inlet IM to act uniformly on all parts of the wall of resilient member I03. This provides means for automatically squeezing the fruitfor juice extraction.

The dome is removably coupled at I08 to the piston rod I09 of a double acting pressure cylinder 0 of any well known type. This cylinder is suitably supported from the standard or upright frame I0 as at III in such a way that its piston rod I08 is in axial alignment with rod 40, 82 and 8|. Pressure may be applied to either side of its piston (not shown) through the respective pressure pipe lines I I2, H3 connected to pressure line 01 through the control valve 96.

The inlet IN is connected through valve I20 to the pressure pipe line I2i which in turn is connected at I22 into the pressure pipe line H2.

The dome I00 and the resilient cup member I03 thereof are so admeasured in diameter and depth that when the dome is lowered by actuation of cylinder-H0 over fruit F seated on the citrus seat .2Ia, they will completely envelope the said fruit. At the same time the rim I03a of the cup member I03, will then be pressed into sealing relationship with the annular shoulder 20 of flange I9 while resilient flange I04 will be pressed onto the top surface I9a of said flange I9. The juice pipeline 34 from the combination valve seat and juice outlet member 25 is connected to a vacuum head I25 which is adapted in well known manner to be applied in removable sealing relationship over the mouth of a container C to befilled with extracted juices. An exhaust pipe line I28 also connected to the vacuum head I 25 is connected through a control valve I21 to a vacuum pipe line I28 to some common form of vacuum pump or the like (not shown). The vacuum head I25 may be of any well known type used for filling and capping bottles. It may, for example, be of the type described and illustrated in Fig. 1 of Maull Patent No. 1,925,196 issued September 5, 1933. It serves to evacuate the container C and .provide vacuum in the pipe line 34. Any other suitable form of vacuum head may of course be used.

Operation of the machine hereinabove described is as follows:

With the dome I00 in the raised position shown in Fig. 1 and the cutter and corer 42 in the retracted position shown in Fig. 2, the whole fruit F is placed on the citrus fruit seat 2Ia in the position shown in dot-dash line in Fig. 1. Valve I2! is then opened causing air to be exhausted from container C through pipe line I28 and simultaneously withdrawing air through pipe line 34 from the chamber 30 below the seated valve portion 53 of the cutter and corer 42. This valve I21 remains open throughout the sequence of operations now to be described.

Valve 90 is now manipulated to open pipe line II2 to pressure from the pipe line 91 while pipe line H3 is opened through the valve to a bleed line (not shown). This causes piston rod I09 of cylinder IIO to move downwardly toward the fruit. carrying with it the dome I00 whose cup I03 envelopes said fruit and seals it from atmosphere, as hereinabove described. Valve 96 is then further manipulated to open pipe line 94 to pressure from pipe line 91 while also maintaining pipe line I I2 open to said pressure at the same time pipe line 95 is opened to said bleed line. Pressure in pipe line 94 moves piston rod 9| upwardly causing it to move the cutter and corer upwardly penetrating the fruit F with a rotary motion caused by the action of cam follower 65 in spiral groove 64. At this time valve I20 is also opened to pressure from the line II2. This pressure admitted to the chamber I02 tends to collapse the cup I03 around the fruit F causing it to squeeze the latter about the cutter and corer 42 at the same time that'the latter is penetrating the fruit F. As soon as said cutter and corer 42 begins to move upwardly its valve portion 53 is lifted from its-seat 32 opening the clearance 54 to the vacuum in chamber 30 and pipe line 34. This withdraws entrapped residual air above valve portion 53 and draws it through line 34 and out through pipe line I26. The extruded juices from the fruit then flowthrough the openings 49, passageways 50, and juice flues 45. through clearance 54, chamber 30, passageway 33, pipe line 34 and into the container C through the inwardly projecting stub 34a of said last named pipe line.

When all the juice has been extracted from the fruit F thevalve 88 is operated in reverse direction to first operate cylinder 32 in reverse direction to cause retraction of piston rod 9|. This is accomplished by operating valve 96 so as to open pipe line 05 to pressure from the line 91 while permitting the opposite end of said cylinder tt bleed throughpipe line 94 and the said bleed line (not shown). When the piston rod 9| is in completely retracted position the valve 53 of cutter and corer 42 is again seated on seat 32, again sealing chamber'30. Valve 86 is then operated further in reverse direction to open pipe line H3 to pressure from pipe line 91 while permitting the opposite end of cylinder 0 to bleed through the pipe line H2 and the bleed line (not shown). This causes retraction of the dome I00 raising it clear of the squeezed fruit which may then be removed and replaced by fresh fruit. During this retraction of the dome, pipe line 95 is maintained under. pressure while pipe line 94 is open to the said bleed line. Valve I20 is also closed and the entire cycle just described repeated on each of the succeeding pieces of fresh fruit. When sumcient juice has been extracted from successive pieces of fruit to fill the container C, the latter is sealed suitably while vacuum is maintained in the pipe line I 26.

With the apparatus of this invention, therefore, it is possible to perform a complete extraction of juice from a single piece of fruit or successive pieces of fruit substantially in vacuo without material access of air to the extracted juices at any time during the extraction. Moreover, since the fruit shell or rind is unbroken until after the fruit has been sealed under the dome I00, there is no access of air to the juicy pulp of the fruit at any time. Whatever air may be present in the clearance 54 or shell 41, is mostly withdrawn by suction through the line 34 as soon as valve portion 53 moves off its seat 32. This occurs before the cutting edge 48 bites into the rind of the fruit in the upward or penetratingstroke of the cutter and corer 42.

If the fruits whose juices are extracted vary in size the stroke of the cutter and corer may be quickly reduced or enlarged by manipulation of the penetration depth adjustment knob 36b.

If the dome I 00 is too small for a particular size and kind of fruit it may be quickly removed and replaced by the required larger or smaller dome. Likewise the member l1 and/or cutter and corer 42 may be quickly replaced if necessary by other sized corresponding members.

The device is applicable, therefore, for the extraction of juices from such fruits as lemons,

oranges or grapefruits without any changes other than the substitution of a properly sized dome, a suitably shaped and sized cutter and corer 42 and corresponding citrus fruit seat member II.

For protection and appearance the cylinder IIO may be covered by a hood I30 indicated in dotted line extending between the hood supports I3I, I32 carried on the standard III. The stroke adjustment parts 66 and cylinder 92 may also be covered .by a removable hood I35 indicated in dotted line and extending from the base Ina of standard I over the hood supports I36, I31 carried on said standard.

It is to be understood, too, that modifications i structure Within the scope of the appended claims is contemplated. There is no intention of limitation to the exact details shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for extracting fruit juice from wholefruit, support means having a seat for the reception of said-whole fruit, enveloping means movable onto said so supported fruit for sealing it from atmosphere, pressure-actuated means for moving said enveloping means, mechanical means carried within said enveloping means for applying juice extruding pressure to said so enveloped fruit, movable means for penetrating said so enveloped fruit and for leading extruded juices therefrom, pressure-actuated means for imparting simultaneous rotary and longitudinal motion to said penetrating means, and means for withdrawing air from the enveloped fruit and for removing said extruded juices in the absence of deleterious gases.

2. In a device for extracting fruit juice from whole fruit, supporting means for said whole fruit, pressure-actuated means for enveloping and sealing said whole fruit from atmosphere on said supporting means, cutter and corer means for penetrating said enveloped fruit, pressure actuated means for reciprocating said cutter and corer means, means for rotating said cutter and corer means during its reciprocation, and means for adjusting the extent of penetration of said enveloped fruit by said cutter and corer means.

3. In a device for extracting fruit juice from whole fruit, supporting means for said whole fruit, pressure-actuated means for enveloping and sealing said whole fruit from atmosphere on said supporting means, cutter and corer means for penetrating said enveloped fruit, pressure actuated means for reciprocating said cutter and corer means, means for rotating said cutter and corer means during its reciprocation, means for withdrawing extracted juice from said penetrated and enveloped fruit in the absence of deleterious gases and at sub-atmospheric pressure, and means for adjusting the extent of penetration of said enveloped fruit by said cutter and corer means.

4. In a device for extracting fruit juice from whole fruit, supporting means for said whole fruit,

pressure-actuated means for enveloping and sealing said whole fruit from atmosphere on said supporting means, cutter and corer means for penetrating said enveloped whole fruit, pressure-actuated means for reciprocating said cutter and corer means, means for rotating said cutter and ccrcr means during its reciprocation, means for withdrawing extracted juice from said penetrated and enveloped fruit in said device in the absence of deleterious gases and at sub-atmospheric pressure and valve means controlled by movement of said cutter and corer means and operating in timed relationship with respect to the penetration of said whole fruit by said cutter and corer means to permit withdrawal of deleterious gases through said juice withdrawing means prior to said penetration.

3. In a device for the extraction of fruit juice from whole fruit, support means having a seat for the reception of said fruit, a dome movable reciprocally toward and away from said support means, pressure-actuated means for so moving said dome, resilient means within said dome for enveloping whole fruit carried on said seat and engaging in sealing relationship with said support means to seal said fruit to atmosphere, means for applying fluid pressure to said resilient means for squeezing said enveloped fruit, pressure-actuated means for penetrating said enveloped fruit and for leading juices squeezed therefrom, and means for removing said so led juices in the absence or deleterious gases and at subatmospheric pressure.

6. In a device for extracting fruit juices from whole fruit, a citrus seat member for receiving said whole fruit, cutter and corer means movable in said member for penetrating said whole fruit, pressure-actuated means for reciprocating said cutter and corer means, spiral cam controlled means for automatically rotating said cutter and corer during its reciprocation, dome means for enveloping said whole fruit, pressure-actuated means for reciprocating said dome means and moving it into and out of sealing engagement with said seat member, pressure-actuated means within said dome means for squeezing said enveloped fruit to extrude its juice and means for withdrawing said extruded juice in the absence of deleterious gases. l

'7. In a device of the character described, cutter and corer means for penetrating whole fruit, means for reciprocating said cutter and-corer means, spiral cam controlled means for automatically rotating said cutter and corer means during its reciprocation, an adjustably movable stop member in the path of travel of a part associated with said reciprocating means, threaded members, nut members having sprocket portions carried on said threaded members, an endless member extending around said sprocket portions for rotatively coupling said nut members together, and means on'said stop member engaging said nut members for changing the position of said adjustably movable stop member on rotation of said nut members whereby adjustment of the depth of penetration of said cutter and corer meansmay be eflected.

8, In a device of the character described,- a citrus seat member adapted to receive whole fruit, cutter and corer'means for penetrating said whole fruit reciprocally movable in said member and outwardly thereof in its feed stroke and means for imparting reciprocating motion to said cutter and corer means, said cutter and corer means comprising a solid portion and a shell portion having a corrugated cutting edge, juice flues arranged in said shell portion and a portion of said solid portion of said cutter I and corer means adjacent to said shell portion and a valve in another portion of said solid portion of said cutter and corer means, a juiceoutlet member having a valve seat on which said valve may seat in the retracted position of said cutter and corer means and suction means connected to said juice outlet member for withdrawing deleterious gases and fruit Juice through said juice outlet member when said valve is unseated.

9. In a device of the character described, cutter and corer means for penetrating whole fruit, means for reciprocating said cutter and corer means, spiral cam-controlled means for automatically rotating said cutter and corer means during its reciprocation, an adjustably movable stop member in the path of movement of a part associated with said reciprocating means, threaded stationary members, nut members carried on said threaded members, an endless member extending around portions of said nut members for rotatively coupling them together, and means on said stop member engaging said nut members for changing the position of said adjustably movable stop member on rotation of said nut members, whereby adjustment of the depth of penetration of said cutter and corer means may be efiected.

10. In a device of the character described, cutter and corer means for penetrating whole fruit, means for reciprocating said cutter-and corer means, means for automatically rotating said cutter and corer means during its reciprocation, an adjustably movable tubular stop member through which a portion of said reciprocating means extends lying in the path of movement of a part of said reciprocating means, threaded stationary members, nut members having sprocket portions carried on said threaded members and grooved portions, an endless chain passed around said sprocket portions for rotatively coupling said nut members together, and tined portions on said stop member engaging in said grooved portions of said nut members for changing the position of said stop member on rotation of said nut members whereby adjustment of the depth of penetration of said cutter and corer means may be effected. ALBERT DELAY.

CERTIFICATE or 0031215011011. Patent No. 2,514,561. April 11, 191A.

ALBERT DELAY It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered potent requiring correction as follows: Page )4, second column, line 12, for the claim number "3" read --5---; and that the said Letters Patent ilonld be read with this correction therein-that the same may confom to the record. of the cue in the .Pgtent Office.

Signed and selled this 1mm dayof July, A. D. 191m.

Leslie Frazer- (Senl) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

